Fecal Pellets used for the Determination of Habitat Utilization of Sambar (Rusa unicolor niger) in Van Vihar National Park, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
Muzaffar Ahmad Wani, Sanjay Telang, Saheel Ahmad Bhat and Khursheed Ahmad SheikhDepartment of Zoology, Government Science and Commerce College, Benazir, Bhopal India.
Abstract: The sambar (Rusa unicolor) is the largest and most widely distributed deer in India. Between July 2010 and June 2011, habitat utilization of sambar, using fecal pellet method was studied in VanVihar Naitonal Park, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. Sambar utilized different habitats in different seasons. Grassland and savanna habitats were overutilized in monsoon and post-monsoon while as wetland and woodland habitats were underutilized. In winter season, scrubland and grassland habitats were overutilized while as wetland habitats were underutilized. In summer season woodland and scrubland habitats were overutlized while as grassland, wetland and savanna habitats were underutilized by the sambar deer.
Keywords: Sambar; Van Vihar National Park; habitat; ungulate; transect line; range finder Back to TOC